Through out the last few years, I have encountered friends who have used laxatives. One friend used them daily, but the others said they would use them on occassion if they knew they were going to over eat. Not that I am considering using laxatives, but some people swear by them for weight control. Has anybody tried this? What are the side effects? Are there long term side effects? Just curious...because it seems like I keep hearing about laxatives.

Tue. Jun 12, 9:57am

I used laxatives long ago when my eating disorder had a strong hold of me. Don't do it it's a slippery slope.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:04 AM

so, you're not considering using laxatives, but you want to know about how and if they work and what side effects they might have? please. take a moment and ask yourself seriously, " do i think using laxatives may be a smart, healthy and sound way to lose weight?" keep saying to yourself," burn more calories than i eat." if you keep hearing about proper eating and exercising, maybe that will help drown out the things you keep hearing about laxatives.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:09 AM

My dh has to use laxatives regularly because of chronic constipation but I would never consider it as a weight loss measure.

If you want to have more regular BM try taking fiber cabsules or fiber supplements like Benefiber or Metamucil.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:18 AM

or how about eating actual food with high fiber content? why do you need to find a short cut or an alternative to just sticking to eating healthy foods in proper protions and exercising?

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:20 AM

O.P.
Hey guys, thanks for your comments. I appreciate it. I'm healthy & at my goal weight---I should've mentioned that in my post. I was honestly just curious because it does seem like I keep hearing about laxative use, like it is some normal thing or something. I just wanted to throw it out there & hear some honest accounts. I know that "friends"/aquantainces may not be completely honest about something so personal. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:37 AM

we read and see a lot about using weight-loss drugs and illegal drugs and starving and crazy cabbage diets as well. use your noodle to weed through the obviously poor choices that some people make and try to push onto others, maybe in an attempt to hide their stupidity / guilt for having made silly decisions.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 10:57 AM

I have to admit that i use laxitives after i have eaten a huge meal. The downside is I always feel terrible, physically afterwards, so to me the side effects are not worth the trouble.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 8:00 PM

The side effects are cramps & runny... It can hurt alot. If I ever use them, I usually think, why? Why do I intentionally give myself cramps.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 8:03 PM

A nice laxative tea can be really helpful, and way more "natural" than over the counter laxatives. Have a cup before bed.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 9:09 PM

I use laxatives occassionally. I used to use them frequently like your friend, daily, because the effects are addicting, you feel instantly thin. But then I had a wake up call and learned that it's really dangerous and harmful to your body. I haven't completely quit using them, sometimes when I overeat which is rarely these days, or if I eat something that I know will make me constipated, I use them. Other times are when I have an event or something, I've gotten good at knowing how they will affect me...sometimes, laxatives will make you go and go and go so you have to be careful!

I take a dose a few times a year when I go 4 days or more without going. I haven't needed to take any in nearly a year, since I boosted my fruits and vegetables and replaced white bread with wheat (the difference between getting 10g fiber a day and 25-30g a day).

Also, for "weight control" - this is purging and therefore a form of bulimia.
And you build up a resistance to them so you need more and more. I'm talking about a box a day.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 12:22 AM

WHOA! a box a day?!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 9:32 AM

I was addicted to laxatives, it started in college with a "Natural Tea". I started using them for constipation but then noticed I started to lose weight, I was hooked. It came at a big price though. By the time I was 25 I was so dependent on them and I was a prisoner to the Bathroom. I ended up at the Dr because of internal bleeding. He basically told me that if I continued to take laxatives I would probably be in diapers by the time I turned 30. Now that scared the c**p out of me, literally!
It took me along time to get off of them and some therapy too, I became addicted to the empty feeling.
Take it from me…don’t start, it’s not worth it!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 10:01 AM

because eating fiber means that you have to eat to lose that weight. Having an eating disorder i know that most anorexics or bulimics want to feel skinny and don't want to eat much, thus they chose laxatives, its a light and easy way to feel skinny! Not that I am encouraging this behavior, but until you are in the shoes of a person with an eating disorder you cannot judge.

Saturday, April 11, 2009, 1:32 AM

Don't do it! My sister had to have her colon removed.

Saturday, April 11, 2009, 9:33 PM

so for all the assholes that suggest perfect portion control and exercise as a way to lose weight.....yeah....that doesn't work for everyone.
i run cross country.
i play soccer.
i take laxatives.
they hurt.
but what's the point of having food just sit inside of you and turn into useless fat?

Don't take laxatives unless you absolutely need to. The body can start depending on them and then you need higher and higher doses of stronger and stronger laxatives.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 7:02 PM

Please please please do not start taking laxatives - the more you take them, the less effective they are - therefore you have to take more every time you use them. Laxatives are a quick fix that provide instant relief when you look at the scale, but you aren't really losing weight! You still have the same muscle and fat as you did before. Drinking water/hot drinks (tea & coffee) and eating high fiber foods (FiberOne original cereal, yogurt with fiber, adding Benefiber to foods, taking a fiber supplement, snacking on veggies and fruit) helps your digestive system plus helps you lose the weight. Trust me it works! I have a birth defect involving my intestines and digestive system and this is how I have been able to stay away from the laxatives.

Thursday, October 29, 2009, 9:12 AM

I am also a little concerned when it comes to weight loss with laxatives or other new trend drugs. The pharma industry is trying to make some money with the fears of the dieting community. These smart drugs for weight loss can be very dangerous, they can harm your body and digestive system and you can get addicted to it - and I know people who believe in these drugs and can't stop taking them.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 4:18 AM

Sadly i currently take almost 60 lax pills a day. That is the cutting-back figure. I have a long way to go and ists very hard to stop. I havent ever mentioned it to anyone i know, but it has had some horrific side effects, hair loss, bleeding from both ends, breaking bones easily, bruising easily, i have lost weight but now i have come to wonder, at what cost?